Kitsuke is the Japanese art of dressing someone in a
kimono.
My name is
Akemi. I am a lecturer and daughter of an old
samurai family. For many years (since 1974) I have dressed myself in kimono for my modelling and for presenting lectures and demonstrations of Japanese culture. Over the past few years, I have also been asked to dress other people in authentic Japanese costume for photo shoots, stage productions, film and television.
I have a collection of over
100 kimonos and other authentic Japanese items. Please ask if you would like to collaborate on projects using them in
traditional or
innovative ways.
I am a member of
EQUITY and the
Association of Teachers & Lecturers
Akemi
Kimono dresser, model and lecturer of Japanese culture
I am organiser of the
Japanese Art Festival on 27th and 28th February 2010
http://www.japaneseartfestival.com
I would like to thank Tsubaki (MM #389215), Jojo (MM #191523) and Nhuc (MM #408631) for their help and kindness on Wednesday 12th September. They looked very beautiful in my kimonos in Paternoster Square, outside St Paul's Cathedral, and helped me with the tea ceremony. I would also like to thank Tuknir (MM #88923) and Philippa Gedge for the lovely photographs they took on the day. The event was part of a promotion for the new 'Intelligent Life' from the Economist Magazine.
Residential Study Retreat in the UK in 2009
Japanese Arts & Culture Courses in Piccadilly, London
Study Tours to Japan in 2009:
27th July - 9th Aug
26th Oct - 6th Nov
The following recent credits give a flavour of what I do as a kimono dresser. Please note that I have
not include dressing myself, as it is my intention to focus on my
kitsuke role as kimono dresser for other people.
July 2009 Organiser of the
Japanese Art Festival
April 2009 Nuffield College, Oxford - kimono lecture and demonstration
February 2009 Organiser of the
Japanese Art Festival
January 2009 Goldsmith's University - kimono lecture and demonstration
December 2008 Hove Museum - kimono lecture and demonstration
November 2008 School of Oriental and African Studies - lecture and demonstration
November 2008 Eton College - lecture and demonstration
October 2008 Edinburgh University - kimono lecture and demonstration
September 2008 Chibi Con - kimono workshops for anime convention
September 2008 Personal appearance and workshop at Orbital Manga, London
September 2008 Lectures of Kimono for the Geffrye Museum, London
August 2008 featured cultural presenter at the Standon Calling 2008 Festival
July 2008 Kimono workshops at Brighton Museum
June 2008 Kitsuke dressing for London photo shoots
May 2008 Featured and interviewed in BBC3 documentary on beauty from around the world, including dressing the presenter, Shazia Mirza
May 2008 On BBC television at the Chelsea Flower Show, on the Moon-Viewing platform, wearing kimono and supporting violinist, John Pearce in his performance of music by Motoki Hirai.
April 2008 Featured in the business and lifestyle magazine for
South East London
April 2008 Featured in an on-line
art and fashion magazine
March 2008 Several short video clips of my lectures are now in the Gallery section of the website of
author, Chris Bradford
March 2008 Magazine photo shoot - kimono dressing for models
March 2008 Bognor Regis - kimono workshop for International Women's Day
March 2008 MinamiCon - kimono workshops for anime convention
February 2008 Oxford University - kimono lecture and demonstration
February 2008 University of the Arts, London - kimono demonstration
January 2008 The Nippon Club, London - kimono demonstration
January 2008 IntroArt Fashion Party at M1NT - kimono dressing for models
January 2008 Edinburgh University - kimono lecture and demonstration
December 2007 Moshi Moshi - kimono dressing for restaurant promotion
December 2007 Phil Antony's photo shoot - kimono dressing for Quyen
November 2007 Japan Society of North West - kimono lecture and demonstration
October 2007 FuyuCon - kimono workshop for anime convention
October 2007 Recoleta photo shoot - kimono dressing for Tsubaki
October 2007 Poole, Dorset - kimono dressing for a traditional wedding
October 2007 Brighton Museum - preparing furoshiki exhibition
September 2007 William Adams Festival - kimono dressing for to celebrate the first English samurai
September 2007 Eton College - kimono dressing for Bushido lecture
September 2007 Economist Magazine - kimono dressing for magazine promotion
September 2007 AlCon - kimono workshop for anime convention
August 2007 University of Greenwich - kimono workshop
August 2007 AmeCon - kimono workshop for anime convention
July 2007 London College of Fashion - kimono dressing and demonstration
April 2007 LadyFest Leeds - kimono dressing for cultural demonstrations
March 2007 IWD Brighton - kimono dressing for fashion show
January 2007 Sam Wyndham's short film - kimono dressing for actresses
December 2006 Promotional photo shoot - dressed Kelly Osbourne in kimono
November 2006 Martial Arts demonstration - kimono dressing for participants
1995 - 2008 Many cultural demonstrations - kimono dressing for audience volunteers